Ashok Leyland Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland, has reinforced its commitment to transforming education outcomes across India through its flagship ‘Road to School’ (RTS) programme, which has reached nearly half a million students across multiple states.
At a virtual media roundtable on Tuesday, N. V. Balachander, Director, Ashok Leyland Foundation, underscored the company’s long-standing commitment to social development. “Our social impact journey began more than 70 years ago. Social consciousness has therefore always been embedded in the very framework and ethos of Ashok Leyland. Over the decades, we have remained deeply engaged with the communities around our manufacturing plants, creating opportunities for dignified employment and focusing on initiatives that drive positive change. Our efforts have consistently centred on key areas such as environmental sustainability, road safety, and community development,” he said.
Balachander noted that education has emerged as a cornerstone of the Foundation’s social impact strategy, leading to the development of the Road to School programme in 2015. The initiative seeks to bridge learning gaps among students in Grades 1 to 8 through interventions in foundational literacy and numeracy, wellness, sports, arts and community engagement.
The programme has benefited more than 4.92 lakh students, engaged over 4,234 schools, and expanded across nine states. According to the Foundation, the programme has delivered measurable improvements in educational outcomes. Literacy and numeracy levels among participating students have improved by 25–30 per cent, while school ratings measured through state assessment parameters have risen by nearly 20 per cent. More than 7,500 children have been brought back into government schools through re-enrolment efforts, and 98 per cent of students have successfully transitioned from middle school to high school.
The Foundation also reported that 95 per cent of RTS students completed Grade 10, significantly higher than the national average of 85 per cent. In addition, around 600 students have qualified for district- and state-level sports competitions, reflecting the programme’s emphasis on physical development alongside academics.
Highlighting the wider influence of the initiative, T. Sasikumar, Chief Operating Officer, Ashok Leyland Foundation, said the programme’s success has extended beyond classroom outcomes and contributed to policy discussions at the state level. “I would also like to highlight that the initiatives we have implemented in government schools have delivered highly encouraging results. The success of these programs has enabled us to contribute valuable inputs to the state government while it formulated its education policy, and we are proud to see several of our recommendations reflected in government policies today,” Sasikumar said.
Building on this foundation, Ashok Leyland Foundation introduced the ‘Road to Livelihood’ (RTL) programme to support students as they move beyond school education. The initiative focuses on career guidance, digital literacy, adolescent wellness, financial literacy, and soft skills development.
To date, the RTL programme has benefited over 1.33 lakh students across 351 schools in five states. More than 23,000 students have acquired digital literacy skills, while 85 per cent of participants have enrolled in higher education programmes of their choice. The programme has also recorded encouraging outcomes in gender inclusion, with 56 per cent of female students opting for STEM-related higher education pathways and 63 per cent choosing science courses after Grade 10.
A key differentiator of the Road to School model is its ecosystem-based approach. Rather than focusing solely on classroom learning, the programme works closely with teachers, school leaders, communities, parents, and government departments to create an enabling environment for student success. Teachers are trained to adopt engaging and inclusive teaching practices, while school leaders receive support to drive academic improvements. Community mobilisation efforts include parent counselling, youth engagement, awareness campaigns on government welfare schemes, and livelihood support initiatives for families.
Beyond education, Ashok Leyland Foundation has expanded its CSR footprint into healthcare and environmental sustainability. Since FY2019, the organisation has supported more than 3,700 children with Type 1 diabetes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by facilitating access to medication and medical consultations. Its fleet of 13 Mobile Medical Units has delivered healthcare services to over four lakh beneficiaries in remote villages across India, providing screening for diabetes, hypertension, vision-related issues, and other common health concerns.
Environmental sustainability remains another focus area. The Foundation has planted over one lakh trees through dedicated plantation drives and facilitated the planting of an additional 85,000 trees through its education programmes. Water management interventions in regions such as Alwar and Nainital have benefited more than 60,000 people through rainwater harvesting, springshed development, and solar-powered water systems.
The Foundation’s efforts have received national recognition, including honours at the SIAM CSR Awards, AIMA CSR & Innovation Summit, and various education-focused forums. During 2025–26, Ashok Leyland Foundation reported benefiting more than 6.26 lakh individuals, with its cumulative impact touching over 9.1 lakh lives.
